If someone breaks a bone in fiction, usually they'll inform the other characters, and people will act accordingly. But sometimes, a writer may want to make the viewer or reader realize the character has been injured immediately, perhaps convey that it's serious or incredibly painful.

In TV, this means making the sound of a broken bone (''crack!'') a bit louder, frequently with the foley noise of a breaking stick or a stalk of celery. In literature, this means taking the time to describe the sound ("...with a sickening crunch"). It doesn't have to be a broken bone, either. Maybe a character's heart is struggling, and [[HeartbeatSoundtrack the viewer will hear that character's heartbeat from time to time]].

This is a good way to make a GoryDiscretionShot still ''[[NightmareFuel really unsettling]]''.

Compare with KungFoley and HellIsThatNoise. May be a StockSoundEffect.

----!!Examples:

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]* In the anime of ''JojosBizarreAdventureDiamondIsUnbreakable'' [[spoiler:there is a disturbing crunching sound when Yoshikage Kira's head gets run over by an ambulance truck]].* ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'': ** During the Chuunin exams, Neji damages Hinata's heart during their fight. A heartbeat sound and a picture of a heart appears from time to time, and she reacts as though she's in pain. (This example is from the Anime; it may have been depicted differently in the Manga)** From the same arc, a crunching sound is heard when Sasuke, under the influence of his then-recent curse mark, dislocates Zaku's shoulder.* In ''Manga/OnePiece'', when Usopp is hit in the face by a 4-tonne baseball bat. Complete with the picture of his bones shattering. Good thing he had the HeroicResolve on that time...* ''Anime/DaiMahouTouge'' reigns over this trope. Punie's submission holds are really painful to behold and ''hear''.* ''Manga/AttackOnTitan'' makes liberal usage of this trope, mostly the horrible noises made when victims are crushed by Titans or falling rubble. But perhaps the best usage is the quiet but distinct *crack* heard when [[spoiler: Levi breaks his ankle]] during the battle with the Female Titan -- he winces and keeps going, but afterwards is forced onto the sidelines for several weeks. [[/folder]]

[[folder:Film - Live-Action]]* ''Film/TheJungleBook'' (1994): One of the main antagonist's henchmen suffers an off-screen but very graphic {{DisneyVillainDeath}} - while trying to crush Mowgli, he gets [[GroinAttack kicked in the groin]] and falls off a precipice that's just behind him. We see him plummeting headlong towards rocks, then the camera cuts away and his hideous scream is silenced by a chilling thud...* ''Film/OneHundredAndTwentySevenHours'': It's a movie about a man who gets his arm crushed under a rock. Three guesses where you hear this sound.* ''Film/TheDarkKnight'': Batman holds Maroni off the edge of a building, threatening him for information. When Maroni informs him that it's not high enough to kill him, Batman agrees, then promptly drops him. The crunch when he lands on his ''feet'' is sickening to say the least. Maroni spends the rest of the movie barely walking with a cane.* ''Film/{{Insidious}}'': The sound that heralds the appearance of the demon is supposed to be the sounds of bones breaking, adding an extra shiver factor.* ''Film/TheRuins'': Two girls decide it is a [[WhatAnIdiot good idea]] to ''pick up and move'' a man who has just fallen 20+ feet and says he can't feel his legs. SickeningCrunch [[HilarityEnsues Ensues]].** Even worse is later when a character breaks the injured friend's leg with a big rock... So he can amputate it with a tiny pocket knife.* We hear one in ''Film/SupermanII'' as [[spoiler: Superman, of all people, crushes the bones in Zod's hand.]]* ''Film/TheThreeStooges'' used this effect to an absurd extent, which [[AmusingInjuries added to the hilarity]]. For example, even Moe twisting Curly's nose or ears would be accompanied by a loud crackling noise.* ''Film/UndercoverBrother'': [[SubvertedTrope Subverted]]. The title character is about to stomp a {{Mook}} who's lying on the ground. We see him stomp and hear a horrible crunching sound as he twists his foot but we don't actually see the stomp connect. Just when you think he's smashed the {{Mook}}'s head in, the camera looks down and we see that UB actually smashed a bag of potato chips. The mook moans that he [[FelonyMisdemeanor just bough those chips]] before losing consciousness.* A typical feature of a Creator/StevenSeagal action flick, notably used in the jewelry store fight in ''Film/MarkedForDeath''.* ''Film/StarTrekIntoDarkness'' gives us one of these when [[spoiler:Khan crushes Admiral Marcus's skull with his bare hands]]. If the sound makes you want to throw up, then that's perfectly understandable.** Immediately before that, [[spoiler:Khan stomps down on Carol's leg]] with the same effect.** During their fight, [[spoiler:Spock breaks Khan's arm over his shoulder]].* ''Film/TomYumGoong'' has [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiANsBkgqjU three-and-a-half solid minutes]] of Tony Jaa destroying the bones of everything wearing a suit out of rage[[spoiler: and grief for his killed elephant]].* When the Kraken attacks the ''Black Pearl'' in ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanDeadMansChest'', it pulls one man out through a gun port, and he gets stuck. We see his twitching legs, hear the crunching noises, and see Pintel and Ragetti pressing themselves to the wall on either side of the port, scared out of what few wits they possess, trying desperately not to vomit.* So much so that it is edited off the soundtrack, Javert's [[spoiler: suicide]] in [[Film/LesMiserables2012 Les Miserables]].* Invoked in ''WesternAnimation/TheNightmareBeforeChristmas'' with the ratcheting noise that occurs whenever the Mayor's head [[AbnormalLimbRotationRange spins]].* In the live-action adaptation ''Film/BeautyAndTheBeast2017'', [[spoiler: Gaston [[DisneyVillainDeath plummets to his death again]].]] It's actually scarier than the animated version. [[spoiler: As he plummets into the abyss, we hear an audible, meaty, death-confirming thud.]] [[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]* ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'': Used from time to time. [[TropeOverdosed How could it not be?]]* Pops up in ''[[Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire A Storm of Swords]]'' when [[spoiler:Ser Gregor Clegane kills Prince Oberyn Martell.]] It's not shown just how exactly the former kills the latter, but judging from the sound and [[spoiler: Ellaria's and Tyrion's reactions,]] it was a horrific way to go.* Turns up in ''Literature/TheStand'' - Stu hears it when he falls down a ravine and lands hard on one leg, snapping it.* In John R. Powers' ''Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up?'', one of the characters, Timmy Heidi, is a member of the tumbling team performing at a high-school basketball game's halftime show. He misjudges his last landing, and the whole audience hears the ''crunch!''* The backbone breaking is described when Wulfgar finally manages to kill [[spoiler: Yerrininae]] in ''Literature/CompanionsCodex''. By the end of their prolonged fight in the burning forge, he latches on to him and bends his back backward for so long that [[spoiler: Yerrininae's]] spine snaps.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]* ''MostExtremeEliminationChallenge'', itself a GagDub, would use and overuse this to a hilarious extent.* ''Series/UltramanLeo'' uses this in the first episode.* Happens in ''Series/KaizokuSentaiGokaiger'' where [[spoiler: Basco shows how powerful his 'true form' is by catching Gai's spear and then breaking his arm, complete with crunch.]]* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer''. Let's face it, Buffy Summers is strong. Really really strong. She eats vampires with super strength for breakfast and asks for seconds. So when her on again off again vampire boyfriend seemingly tries to kill her friends, we get a sickening bone crunching boot to the head that somehow didn't cave Spike's head in.* It wasn't enough for us to see ''Series/{{Sherlock}}'' [[spoiler:hit the pavement at the end of "[[Recap/SherlockS02E03TheReichenbachFall The Reichenbach Fall]]"]], we had to hear it.* Explicitly invoked in ''Series/GoodEats, [=S4EP4=], "Crustacean Nation II: Claws."-->'''Alton Brown''': This is how I do it. Just put the fat side of the knuckle right there in between that joint and squeeze until you hear a sickening crunch. [snap] That's a sickening crunch.* ''Series/StargateSG1'' episode "Menace"; Just after Daniel has managed to talk the super-strong but child-like android [[spoiler:who can create and control ''replicators'']] out of trying to kill everyone in the base, he inadvisedly tries to get a hand on her neck to remove her battery and shut her down. Said teenage-looking robot with the mind of a child proceeds to casually grab hold of his arm and snap it. Cue. ''That. Noise.''* This trope is the whole purpose behind the defunct MTV show ''Scarred''.* ''Series/BreakingBad'': In "Felina", [[spoiler:Jesse breaks Todd's neck.]] It's as unsettling as it is [[AssholeVictim disturbingly satisfying.]]** Long before that, in season 2's "Peek-a-boo", we get the same noise as [[spoiler:a guy's head is crushed by an ATM]]. Jesse even [[InvokedTrope mentions]] the noise, and is nauseated when he remembers it.* In ''Series/TheXFiles'' episode "The Pine Bluff Variant," Mulder is infiltrating a domestic terrorism group undercover. When higher-ups start getting suspicious, he is interrogated and punished by having his fingers bent back. When Mulder goes too far and suggests a mole in the organization, there is a loud snapping sound--Mulder's pinky finger is broken. And even though you know it's fake, the sound they use is enough to make anyone queasy. * In the ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'' episode [[Recap/SupernaturalS02E21AllHellBreaksLoosePartOne "All Hell Breaks Loose, Part One" (S02, Ep21)]], the is a bone crunching noise when Jake punches Sam in the shoulder. * ''Series/GameOfThrones'' has [[spoiler:the Viper's head being crushed by the Mountain]], made even more horrifying than in [[Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire the source material]].[[/folder]]

[[folder:Tabletop Games]]* ''TabletopGame/CallOfCthulhu''** Supplement ''Fearful Passages'', adventure "Sleigh Ride". The {{PC}}s and an {{NPC}} named Chance are lying in ambush to try to bag some monsters when one of them sneaks up behind Chance.-->Chance, terrified, drops the rifle into the snow. He stands frozen just long enough for the creature to reach out gigantic hands and [[NeckSnap wrench Chance's head with a sickening crack]].** Campaign setting ''The Fungi From Yuggoth'', adventure "Castle Black". When the star vampire attacks Vetch it will inexorably bend him backward until his spine snaps with a sickening crunching sound.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]* ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamAsylum'': Some of the more brutal finishing moves have audible ''crack''s of bones breaking.* ''VideoGame/CallOfCthulhuDarkCornersOfTheEarth'': If you walk around with a broken leg, a sickening ''crack'' is heard with every step.* ''VideoGame/{{Fallout 3}}'': Fall damage is accompanied by a ''crunch''.* ''VideoGame/{{Half-Life 2}}'': If you take fall damage, the ''crack'' of a broken bone is heard, accompanied by the [[PoweredArmor HEV suit's]] computer informing you of the injuries.** The same thing happens in ''VideoGame/Left4Dead'', minus the computer voice. You can hear it happen to your partners as well, if you're close enough for it not to be drowned out.** In ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'' it's more of a goofy "spletch" sound. Appropriate for a game with a DenserAndWackier tone where DeathIsCheap.%%* ''VideoGame/MadWorld'': Happens a lot here.* ''VideoGame/AnarchyReigns'' has cracking sounds made whenever the Rin sisters snap people's necks.* ''VideoGame/{{Minecraft}}'' replaced the long-standing "OOGH" damage sound with an absolutely spine-chilling set of crunching, cracking, and gibbing sounds. Some of these are even given titles such as "Hurt Flesh.wav".** [[FridgeLogic Which also play for burning, drowning, poison, and other forms of damage]]...* ''VideoGame/MirrorsEdge'': Try jumping off a roof. You'll hear it.* ''VideoGame/MortalKombat9'': The absolutely sadistic [[LimitBreak X-Ray move]]. What makes it worse is its namesake feature, ''showing'' you the type of damage your character's doing.* ''VideoGame/SamuraiShodown'': Hanzō's fatality consist in him swiftly breaking the arm, leg, ribs, and then ''[[FamilyUnfriendlyDeath skull]]'' of his victim, all with audible cracks and shots of the broken bones inside.* ''VideoGame/SuperPaperMario'': When Mimi reveals her monster form, her neck ''snap''s as her head starts spinning around. Unexpectedly disturbing for a Mario game.* ''Videogame/TombRaider'': The first five games all feature the iconic and cringe-inducing crack and splat noise whenever Lara takes a lethal drop. Later games do away with it, but the Crystal Dynamics era games still have some painful sounding smacks and crunches for Lara's wipeouts.* ''VideoGame/WWEAllStars'' which has over the top versions of wrestling moves makes the submissions more extreme looking by stretching the victim more than normal and adding a loud bone cracking/crunching sound.* In the [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Kmmggc6jH8 intro movie]] for ''VideoGame/BaldursGate'', [[BigBad Sarevok]] strangles an unnamed character so hard it makes scrunching noises. The dead body falling to the ground from a height after that also makes a crunch.* Some moves in ''[[VideoGame/SoulSeries SoulCalibur]]'' are accompanied by sickening crunches. Ivy's "wrap the whip sword around their neck and pull it '''through'''" move is especially nasty.* You get a couple of these in ''VideoGame/{{Tekken}}'' but none more than Lars' rear throw wherein he grabs his opponent by their hair and bends their neck over backwards with the obligatory "crunch".* In the ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'' quest "Alone", Fenris gives his former master Danarius a loud bone-crunching neck snap when he and Hawke's party defeat him.* ''Videogame/SCPContainmentBreach'', the sound of your neck cracked by SCP-173.* A student that gets hurled off of the school roof in ''VideoGame/YandereSimulator'' will emit a loud crack as they meet the ground (and their death).-->"Ugh! Wha--?! [=AAAAAaaaaaahhhhhh=]...! *CRUNCH** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess'' has one after the final battle. As Ganondorf starts dying, he sees an apparition of Zant. Cue Zant ''snapping his own neck,'' followed by Ganondorf's eyes glossing over before he dies.* ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'' games have this when you take fall damage starting with ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIIMorrowind Morrowind]]''.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Webcomics]]* ''Webcomic/TheGoodWitch'': The previous good witch jumps out a window, and a ''crunch'' is heard. When we're shown where she landed, all that's left is her clothes.* ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'' gives us a cleric who's about to get revenge on someone for betraying him. We see the following sound effects come from off-panel: Thunk. Thunk. SQUILCH!* In ''Webcomic/OurLittleAdventure'', this sound means that the local Epic-level SorcerousOverlord is angry enough to fire up the ''Implosion'' spell and [[http://danielscreations.com/ola/comics/ep0613.html start handing out]] {{One Hit Kill}}s.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]* On one episode of ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'', [[TheHero Finn's]] legs get crushed by a stag, which causes a very cringeworthy sound.* In the ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'' episode "[[Recap/JusticeLeagueS2E5And6OnlyADream Only a Dream]]", when Superman gives Jimmy Olsen a DeadlyHug, the soundtrack features a rather nasty crack.* This is often used in ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', as Creator/MattGroening is of the opinion that the more 'painful' the sound effect, the funnier it will be. * In ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'', when [[spoiler: Lars gets slammed into a cliff face and falls a good distance to the ground]], you can hear bones crack when [[spoiler: he]] hits the rock. Downplayed, as the sound isn't turned up in any way, and you can barely hear it unless you're listening for it.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Real Life]]* [[TruthInTelevision Yes, bones make sounds when they break]]. However, particularly if you break a bone by falling from a height on to it, the sound is not loud enough to be heard over that of the impact with the ground.** Also, for most bones, there are a few layers of muscle, fat, and skin that can do a lot to muffle the sound, making it sound more like a cross between a crack and a pop (crack your knuckles, you'll get the idea.)[[/folder]]